初 chū

at first; (at the) beginning; first

HSK 3 7 strokes Radical 刀 Ideograph 14 words

Built from

衤yīcloth 刀dāoknife; old coin; measure

How it works

Cutting 刀 the cloth 衤 is the first step in making clothes.

Words built with 初

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Words with 初

Show up to

HSK 3 · 7

初

chū

at first; (at the) beginning; first

当初

dāngchū

at that time; originally

初步

chūbù

initial; preliminary; tentative

初中

chūzhōng

junior high school (abbr. for 初级中学)

初级

chūjí

junior; primary

年初

niánchū

beginning of the year

初一

chūyī

first day of lunar month; New Year's Day; first year in junior middle school

HSK 4 · 1

最初

zuìchū

first; primary; initial

HSK 5 · 1

初期

chūqī

initial stage; beginning period

HSK 6 · 1

初等

chūděng

elementary (i.e. easy)

HSK 7–9 · 4

起初

qǐchū

originally; at first; at the outset

初次

chūcì

for the first time; first (meeting, attempt etc)

初衷

chūzhōng

original intention

月初

yuèchū

start of month; early in the month